On the day Senator Kamala Harris made history as the first woman and the first woman of color to become Vice President-Elect, Kurt and I started work on a series of 46 photographs to celebrate Harris and to honor Lexington women of color who lead.
We began by recognizing we had already photographed many women of color who are leaders in our community for this artwork: Lexington in the Time of COVID-19. So we wrote to each of them to share about what we were doing and to ask if we could include the portraits we had taken of them. We also asked who else we should photograph.
From the start, one of our biggest challenges was clarifying what we mean by “lead,” a word steeped in male-centered notions of leadership.
We explained we wanted to photograph women who are leaders in their communities, whether because they head an organization, lead a movement, chair or sit on a board, own a business, or are beloved by many.
Over the next two months, we photographed women who are considered pillars of their communities; women who tend to the health of immigrant and Latinx kids; women who mentor fellow immigrant women and teach them English; women who advocate for other women; women who know when city government votes on resolutions that hurt their neighbors and who love their neighbors fiercely; women who teach and inspire; women who blaze new trails.
These women shared their stories with us and always asked, “Do you need more women?”
It’s impossible to say no to an offer to be introduced to more amazing women! Which is why this series includes 56 photographs of Lexington women of color, even though Kurt and I initially set out to capture 46.
We are taking this as a sign of who our next 10 Vice Presidents and–dare we hope–Presidents may be. And we feel honored to have met so many incredible women, thankful that they let us photograph them, and humbled by what they do ❤
#KamalaHarris #WomenSupportingWomen #BIPOCwomen
(If you’d like to share this post with people who aren’t on FB or if you prefer to view these photographs on a website, head to https://lexcovid19.com/)
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Tessa and Isabel with Clementine
Isabel Escobar: “I was born in Brazil and lived in Rio de
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Janeth
Janeth Ceballos Osorio, MD, FAAP “Hola Amigos y Vecinos. I am a
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Mizari
Mizari Esmeralda Suárez: “Mizari Suárez is neighborly! I’ve never considered myself an
![](https://lextimecovid19.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/010-01-14-Preeti-300x209.jpg)
Preeti with Piku
Preeti Gupta works as a Realtor for Lifstyl Real Estate. She is
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Huajing
Dr. Huajing Maske, Executive Director, University of Kentucky Confucius Institute; Executive Director,
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Marilyn
Marilyn Dishman was the first African American Commissioner for Fayette County. She
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Husein, Wafa, Rasmieh, Abdel-Karim, Adam, Yousef, and Dua’a
“The prophetic saying that God is at your assistance when you assist
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Seema
Dr. Seema Capoor is a physician, surgeon and associate professor in cornea
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Srimati
Srimati Basu is Professor of Gender and Women’s Studies and Anthropology, and
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Suvas and Nima
Nirmala S. Desai, MD Nima: “I went to medical school in Baroda,
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Isabel with Benni
Isabel Taylor: “My background is in international business law. I moved to
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Mae
Mae Suramek is a reformed non-profit administrator turned social entrepreneur. She has
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Patrick and Keiko
Dr. Keiko Tanaka is Professor of Rural Sociology and Director of Undergraduate
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Nadia
Nadia Rasheed, M.D. Born and raised in New York City, Nadia Rasheed
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Brigit
Brigit Truex is a Lexington-based artist and poet. Brigit: “How to be
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Michael and Erin
Erin Robinson is co-owner of Not Your Ordinary Vegan. Narrative from original
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Sean, Kadyn, and Tia
Tia Edwards is co-owner of Fresh Bourbon Distilling Co. Narrative from original
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Etel
Etel Wagner is Chef/Owner of Bayleaf Diaspora Kitchen Narrative from original post:
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Tiffany
Tiffany El-Amin: “I am a farmer in Appalachian Kentucky. I farm herbs
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April
April Taylor is a local leader of the LPD Accountability movement and
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Saburah
Saburah El-Amin is the co-founder, backbone, and lead community organizer for the
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Kenzie
Kenzie Green: “I’m a regular participant in the Black Lives Matter and
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Jessica
Jessica McAlpin is a Lexington-based artist and owner of Verie Nice Art.
![A young woman with purple hair and glasses sits on a brick front-porch railing in a striped shirt.](https://lextimecovid19.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/10-8-Brandy-Final-1-web-300x209.jpg)
Brandy
“Hi, friends. My name is Brandy. I am an artist/educator, self proclaimed
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Sarah
Sarah Williams, BSN, MA, Community Activist, Civic Change Agent, one of the
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Deidra
Dr. Deidra Dennie is Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at Transylvania
![Two women with long dark hair, one with bangs are seated on a front porch among wooden furniture. One sits with legs crossed while the other drapes her right hand across her knee.](https://lextimecovid19.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/echo-and-emily-300x209.jpg)
Echo and Emily
Emily Woxihara performs with Ancient Warfare and is the drummer for Bear
![A family of six, a woman with long wavy hair, two young women in spring dresses, and a young girl with pigtails are seated between two men. The older man (left) is wearing a golden yellow shirt and the young man (right) wear dark rimmed glasses, a gray button up and jeans. They are seated outdoors in front of a sunroom.](https://lextimecovid19.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/velantin-ellie-liz-izabel-and-jonathan-1-300x209.jpg)
Valentin, Ellie, Liz, Izabel, Adri, and Jonathan
Adri Pulido is the owner of Polished Needle and co-founder of Festival Latino
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Justin and Christine
Christine Louise Stanley is Member of the Defense Research Institute and the
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Ka’imilani
Ka’imilani Leota Sellers is a teacher and writer. Narrative from original post:
![A couple: (left) a young woman with a long tee shirt and rubber boots, (right) a bald man with a beard, sunglasses propped on his forehead, and a yellow handkerchief around his neck, stand in front of an open-front shed filled with gardening supplies and tools.](https://lextimecovid19.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ashley-and-trevor-300x209.jpg)
Ashley and Trevor
Ashley Smith is a native and life-long resident of Lexington, KY. She
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Ian, Luis, and Minerva with Kota
Minerva Castillo just stepped down as President of Rancho Tapatio. Narrative from
![A neatly dressed bald man in an orange tie and leather sandals is seated on the wooden porch of a light freen home next to a woman with short curly hair, barefoot wearing a white button up shirt.](https://lextimecovid19.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/rodney-and-andrea-300x209.jpg)
Rodney and Andrea
Andrea James works as Community Response Strategist in the Mayor’s Office, City
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Adalhi, Sydney, Adalhi, Bryan, and Mariano
Adalhí Aranda is Founder and Director of Bluegrass Youth Ballet. Narrative from
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Ricki
Rikketta Franklin, M.Ed. is owner of Cynette Tutelage and Consulting as well
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Mike, Bodhi, Toa, and Bindi
Toa Green is Owner/Operator of Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream. Narrative
![A young woman with dreadlocks and thick rimmed glasses wearing a loosely fitting jacket stands, hands in pocket in front of a stone buidling with potted tree saplings in the background.](https://lextimecovid19.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/christine-300x209.jpg)
Christine
Christine Smith, Executive Director of Seedleaf, a community gardening organization in Lexington,
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Earl, Analia, and Jazmine with Gio
Analia Loria Kinsey is Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and
![A woman in a bright red dress and curly lightened hair with thick glasses stands next to a young girl with curly dark hair donning a yellow blanket as a cape (arms stretched wide) while a man with dreadlocks and a beard wearing red sneakers leans on a porch column.](https://lextimecovid19.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/crystal-ivory-and-ron-300x209.jpg)
Crystal, Ivory, and Ron
Crystal Wilkinson, a USA Artist Fellow, is the award-winning author of The Birds
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Aardra
Aardra Kachroo is an award-winning scientist and Professor at the University of
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Danielle, Miles, Ellington, Michael, and Kevin
Danielle Meadows-Stinnett is Owner and Sr. Graphic Designer & Lead Producer at
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Chloe, Caden, Julie, and Scott
Juliana Jensen is the proud owner of Cakes by Julie. She was
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Fouad, Hanan, Ayman, and Zarin with Leo
Hanan Froukh: “I am a Muslim woman who is a Palestinian immigrant.
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Martina, Darius, Marcellus, Ivy, and Chamari
Martina Barksdale is “Multimedia Maven” founder and creator of The Sit-in, Co-founder
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Shayna and Chamari
Shayna Sawyers: “As far as my role in the community, my show
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Wesley, Malia, Misty, and Rebecca
Rebecca Web is Founder and Director of Community Inspired Solution since 2014.
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Srikant and Lakshmi with Fibo
Lakshmi Sriraman: “I am a visual and performing artist, based in Lexington.
![](https://lextimecovid19.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/020-04-7-Shana-Sippy-300x209.jpg)
Emanuelle, Zachariah, Shana, and David
Shana Sippy is Assistant Professor of Religion at Centre College and founding
![](https://lextimecovid19.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/021-04-7-Samantha-Johnson-2-300x209.jpg)
Samantha and King
Samantha Johnson is Director of The Night Market, Social Media Lead at
![](https://lextimecovid19.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/019-04-1-Maria-300x209.jpg)
Isa, Maria, Tomas, Catalina, and Dave
Maria Labreveux is Executive Director of the Kentucky Science & Engineering Foundation
![A barefoot young woman with dark braided hair and steel grey highlights wearing a shortened tee shirt is seated on a brick column of a front porch with a metal storm door.](https://lextimecovid19.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ciara-300x209.jpg)
Ciara
Ciara LeRoy is the owner of Pretty Strange Design and the artist
![](https://lextimecovid19.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/017-03-25-Helue-Shalash-300x209.jpg)
Bilal, Fajima, Helue, Hakeem, Sumaya, and Jenna
Helue Shalash is co-owner of BaK 4 More Studio. Narrative from original
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Iman, Saphia, and Hannah
Saphia Isa is co-owner of BaK 4 More Studio. Narrative from original
![Hoda Shalash](https://lextimecovid19.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/015-03-19-Hoda-Shalash-300x209.jpg)
Omar, Abla, Hadeel, Ali, and Hoda
Hoda Shalash serves on the programmatic board of CivicLex and on the
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Mercedes, Nicholas, Camille, Chris
Mercedes Harn teaches K-5 Spanish at Athens Chilesburg Elementary School in Lexington,